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The commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a four-star general or admiral in the United States Armed Forces who serves as the head of all United States and Canadian joint aerospace military operational forces, stationed within the North American territories. The commander of NORAD concurrently serves as the commander of United States Northern Command and is the head of all U.S. military forces within the command's geographical area of responsibility. The commander of NORAD is nominated for appointment by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate. Prior to 2001, the title for the commander of NORAD was called the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The commander of NORAD typically serves for two years.

No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Earle E
Partridge, Eagle E.General Earle E. Partridge
(1900–1990)
12 September 195730 July 19591 year, 321 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
2
Laurence S
Kuter, Laurence S.General Laurence S. Kuter
(1905–1979)
1 August 195930 July 19622 years, 363 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
3
John K
Gerhart, John K.General John K. Gerhart
(1907–1981)
1 August 196230 March 19652 years, 241 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
4
Dean C
Strother, Dean C.General Dean C. Strother
(1908–2000)
1 April 196529 July 19661 year, 119 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
5
Raymond J
Reeves, Raymond J.General Raymond J. Reeves
(1909–1998)
1 August 196631 July 19692 years, 364 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
6
Seth J
McKee, Seth J.General Seth J. McKee
(1916–2016)
1 August 196930 September 19734 years, 60 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
7
Lucius D. Clay Jr.
Clay, Lucius D. Jr.General Lucius D. Clay Jr.
(1919–1994)
1 October 197329 August 19751 year, 332 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
8
Daniel James Jr.
James, Daniel Jr.General Daniel James Jr.
(1920–1978)
1 September 19755 December 19772 years, 95 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
9
James E
Hill, James E.General James E. Hill
(1921–1999)
6 December 197731 December 19792 years, 25 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
10
James V
Hartinger, James V.General James V. Hartinger
(1925–2000)
1 January 198030 July 19844 years, 211 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
11
Robert T
Herres, Robert T.General Robert T. Herres
(1932–2008)
30 July 19845 February 19872 years, 190 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
12
John L
Piotrowski, John L.General John L. Piotrowski
(born 1934)
6 February 198730 March 19903 years, 52 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
13
Donald J
Kutyna, Donald J.General Donald J. Kutyna
(born 1933)
1 April 199030 June 19922 years, 90 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
14
Charles A
Horner, Charles A.General Charles A. Horner
(born 1936)
30 June 199212 September 19942 years, 74 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
15
Joseph W
Ashy, Joseph W.General Joseph W. Ashy
(born 1940)
13 September 199426 August 19961 year, 348 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
16
Howell M
Estes, Howell M. IIIGeneral Howell M. Estes III
(born 1941)
27 August 199614 August 19981 year, 352 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
17
Richard B
Myers, Richard B.General Richard B. Myers
(born 1942)
14 August 199822 February 20001 year, 192 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
18
Ralph E
Eberhart, Ralph E.General Ralph E. Eberhart
(born 1946)
22 February 20005 November 20044 years, 257 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
19
Timothy J
Keating, Timothy J.Admiral Timothy J. Keating
(born 1948)
5 November 200423 March 20072 years, 138 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
20
Victor E. Renuart Jr.
Renuart, Victor E. Jr.General Victor E. Renuart Jr.
(born 1949)
23 March 200719 May 20103 years, 57 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
21
James A. Winnefeld, Jr.
Winnefeld, James A. Jr.Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr.
(born 1956)
19 May 20103 August 20111 year, 76 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
22
Charles H. Jacoby Jr.
Jacoby, Charles H. Jr.General Charles H. Jacoby Jr.
(born 1954)
3 August 20115 December 20143 years, 124 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army
U.S. Army
23
William E
Gortney, William E.Admiral William E. Gortney
(born 1955)
5 December 201413 May 20161 year, 160 daysEmblem of the United States Navy
U.S. Navy
24
Lori J
Robinson, Lori J.General Lori J. Robinson
(born 1959)
13 May 201624 May 20182 years, 11 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
25
Terrence J
O'Shaughnessy, Terrence J.General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy
(born 1964)
24 May 201820 August 20202 years, 88 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force
26
Glen D
VanHerck, Glen D.General Glen D. VanHerck
(born 1962)
20 August 2020Incumbent4 years, 152 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Air Force
U.S. Air Force

List of deputy commanders[]

In recent years deputy commanders have always been Canadian air force lieutenant generals. Prior to the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, the deputy commanders were RCAF Air Marshals.[1]

NORAD Deputy Commanders
Number Name Photo Start of term End Notable positions held before or after
1 Air Marshal Roy Slemon, CB, CBE, CD Air Marshal Charles Roy Slemon RCAF 12 September 1957 14 August 1964 Chief of the Air Staff
2 Air Marshal Clarence Rupert Dunlap, CBE, CD 15 August 1964 25 August 1967 Chief of the Air Staff
3 Air Marshal William R. MacBrien OBE, CD 26 August 1967 22 January 1969
4 Lieutenant-General Frederick Ralph Sharp CMM, DFC, CD 23 January 1969 14 September 1969 Chief of the Defence Staff (1969–1972)
5 Lieutenant-General Edwin Reyno September 1969 August 1972
6 Lieutenant-General Reginald J. Lane, DSO, DFC, CD September 1972 October 1974
7 Lieutenant-General Richard C. Stovel, AFC, CD October 1974 September 1976
8 Lieutenant-General David R. Adamson September 1976 August 1978
9 Lieutenant-General Kenneth E. Lewis 18 August 1978 24 June 1980 Commander of Air Command
10 Lieutenant-General Kenneth J. Thorneycroft June 1980 May 1983
11 Lieutenant-General Donald C. MacKenzie Donald Colin Mackenzie May 1983 August 1986
12 Lieutenant-General Donald M. McNaughton August 1986 August 1989
13 Lieutenant-General Robert W. Morton, CMM, CD August 1989 August 1992
14 Lieutenant-General Brian L. Smith August 1992 August 1994
15 Lieutenant-General J. D. O'Blenis August 1994 August 1995
16 Lieutenant-General L. W. F. Cuppens August 1995 April 1998
17 Lieutenant-General G E C Macdonald, CMM, MVO, CD Lieutenant General George Macdonald April 1998 August 2001 Vice Chief of Defence Staff, Canadian Forces (2001-2004)
18 Lieutenant-General Ken R. Pennie, CMM, CD Lieutenant-General K R Pennie 8 August 2001 14 July 2003 Chief of the Air Staff (2003–2005)
19 Lieutenant-General Rick Findley, CMM, MSC, CD Eric A. Rick Findley official portrait 14 July 2003 2 August 2007
20 Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, OC, CMM, MSC, CD Lt Gen Charlie Bouchard (close-up) 2 August 2007 10 July 2009
21 Lieutenant-General Marcel Duval, CMM, CD Marcel Duval 10 July 2009 15 August 2011
21 Lieutenant-General Thomas J. Lawson, CMM, CD Lieutenant-General Thomas J Lawson 15 August 2011 4 September 2012 Chief of the Defence Staff
22 Lieutenant-General Alain Parent, CMM, CD Lieutenant-General J A J Parent 4 September 2012 1 July 2015
23 Lieutenant-General Pierre St-Amand, CMM, CD Amand 2016 1 July 2015 20 July 2018[2]
24 Lieutenant General Christopher J. Coates, CMM, MSM, CD Christopher J. Coates 20 July 2018[2] 21 July 2020[3]
25 Lieutenant General Alain Pelletier, MSM, CD Alain Pelletier 21 July 2020[2] present

References[]

  1. Veale, Thomas F. (2008). Guarding What You Value Most: North American Aerospace Defense Command, Celebrating 50 Years. Government Printing Office. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-16-080436-6. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "NORAD TOCA". NORAD Public Affairs. 20 July 2018. http://www.norad.mil/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Article/1580612/norad-toca/. 
  3. NORADCommand (21 July 2020). "NORAD bids a fond farewell to Lieutenant-General Christopher Coates as he moves on to @CFOperations; and welcome ou…". https://twitter.com/NORADCommand/status/1285672191510577157. 
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